The impact of Covid-19 on Venezuelan migrants’ access to health

A qualitative study in Colombian and Peruvian cities

Dados Bibliográficos

ID13136149
AutoresPatricio Zambrano-Barragán (0000-0001-5734-0661, Inter-American Development Bank, autor correspondente), Sebastián Ramírez Hernandez (Princeton University), Luisa Feline Freier (0000-0002-4653-4812, University of the Pacific), Marta Luzes (0009-0008-2627-7426, University of the Pacific), Rita Sobczyk (0000-0002-6897-3568, Universidad de Granada), Alexander Rodríguez (0000-0002-4313-9913, University of Magdalena), Charles M Beach (0000-0001-5262-0728, University College London)
Ano2020
Volume3
Páginas100029-100029
Data de publicação2020-12-09
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Migration and Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2666-6235 • E-ISSN: 2666-6235
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jmh.2020.100029
PMID34405183
OpenAlexW3112125316
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas19
Referências citadas15

This research seeks to understand how COVID-19 has affected access to healthcare among migrants in Latin American cities. Using ethnographic research methods, we engaged with Venezuelans living in conditions of informality in four Colombian cities-Barranquilla, Cucuta, Riohacha, and Soacha-and three Peruvian cities-Lima, Trujillo, and Tumbes. We conducted 130 interviews of both Venezuelan migrants and state and non-governmental actors within the healthcare ecosystems of these cities. We found that forced migrants from Venezuela in both Colombia and Peru face common obstacles along their access trajectories to healthcare, which we summarize as legal, financial, and relating to discrimination and information asymmetry. By limiting effective access to care during the pandemic, these obstacles have also affected migrants' ability to cover the costs of basic needs, particularly food and housing. Our study also found a prevalent reliance on alternative forms of care, such as telemedicine, easy-to-access pharmacies, and extralegal care networks. We conclude that COVID-19 has exacerbated preexisting conditions of informality and health inequities affecting Venezuelan migrants in Colombia and Peru

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Development economics · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Ethnography · Geography · Health care · Inequality · Latin Americans · Limiting · Pandemic · Political science · Qualitative research · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Healthcare Systems and Reforms · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma